These are individuals from different backgrounds but with a similar angst against police, the government and the laws of the land, which they claim are the real reasons for the worsening security situation for women in the Capital.

These are men and women who have come together not to follow a leader or a political party, but to follow their hearts and break free a system that forces them live in fear.

Some protesters like Vikas Sharma and Raj Kumar have sacrificed their professions, some like Rajesh Gangwar and Babu Singh have been on hunger-strike for days now, and some like Arendra Mishra and Mohammed Saifuddin are sitting seminaked in spine-chilling cold, all making their unique contributions to this 'movement'. The newest entrees this protest are members DTC Workers' Unity Centre, a union of 4,200 DTC workers, and a group of sadhus from Kurukshetra who are holding a ritual at the site for the peace of the departed soul.

Another group of people, who vehemently deny any affiliation to any organisation or party and call themselves 'Damini Andolan Office', have been camping here for the past 13 days now. Members of this group say they're mostly college students and working professionals who are contributing money from their own pockets to fund tents and mattresses for those who have made Jantar Mantar their home for now, apart from a first-aid camp and a doctor for the two hungerprotesters.

These are individuals from different backgrounds but with a similar angst.

RITU KAUSHIK

A TEACHER, SHE SKIPPED HER NET EXAMINATION TO JOIN THE PROTESTS

Students love her, and she her job. But skipping her classes and the National Education Test (NET) examination, Ritu decided to join the protests. " What would I do of a good job if I don't feel safe in Delhi? What happened to the rape victim can happen to me as well," she says. Ritu, who teaches in a school in Vikaspuri, was rigorously preparing for the NET exam for the past many months but decided to give it the miss so that she could be part of the protests. "I have a three-year-old daughter. I'm doing this for her only. I want her safe when she goes to school, college and finally to work 20 years down the line. I want to take this movement forward," she says.Mohinder SinghMOHINDER SINGH

SACKED COACHING CENTRE TEACHER

Having spent more than 11 days at Jantar Mantar, Singh, though misses his students, feels the fight for justice and a safe Delhi hold more weight than classroom lectures. Singh sacrificed his job to be part of the ongoing protests. His wife has been supportive and singlehandedly looks after the running of the household. " I want a safer Delhi for women. My sister, my mother and my wife should be safe in this city and the country. I'm fighting for this cause," says Singh.Vikas SharmaVIKAS SHARMA

FIRED CELLPHONE COMPANY EXECUTIVE

Thirty-year-old Vikas Sharma was recently handed the pink slip by his company for " absconding" from office for more than two weeks. An executive in a cellphone company, he was issued with a written warning to join office as soon as possible. "I continued to take part in the protests and eventually my company decided to fire me. Since then I'm here.

I'm rather happy that I can wholeheartedly be a part of the campaign. I have no obligations now," he says. "I have no hope from the government. It's just the pressure of protests that has compelled the government to think on the issue seriously," an angry Sharma says.RAJ KUMAR

THEATRE ARTISTE

THE 28-year-old has left all shows that he was involved in and returned the advance money he had taken from theatre houses for the plays. He is frank enough to admit that he gets abusive calls from managers of houses banking on him for their plays.

"I have lost a good sum of money but it is nothing when compared to the cause. We need a safe Delhi for our sisters," Kumar says. "She (the victim) was our sister. We consider that we have lost a family member. Under Hindu rituals, the mourning period lasts 13 days. And I have been here for the past 13 days. I haven't celebrated New Year," he says.